Hi, why are you hesitating to tell the doctors about your exercises? I think they normally want to know exactly what has happened in order to diagnose you correctly. GAD is a serious condition, however, your symptoms do not sound like GAD; perhaps you developed anxiety or depression symptoms as the result of your initial condition. The problem might be neurologic in nature; have you visited a neurologist?

@Helena I guess I'm just afraid of their reactions. But I'm also thinking I've suffered for 3 years in so much pain which no one ever acknowledges. I'm afraid that even if I tell them they'll just shrug it off saying it's part of your anxiety. I was even put on anti anxiety medications for one year but they literally had no effect. If it were anxiety wouldn't it have gotten better with the medications😭😭

I'm just so lost and confused how do I approach my parents and tell them. And the doctors as well

@maya the doctor I visit I feel like he ridicules me. I told him I want to get MRI scans of my head and neck to get a better understanding of my condition as no treatment was working and he was like "don't waste money on this, save it for your marriage instead" and that was the point where I lost my faith in doctors. Their main goal should be to help the patient feel better not make then feel worse😭

@Hiba Real doctors will never shrug it off!! I was so afraid of my own fears of cars and car accidents that I suffered for a decade, literally. Until I came here and everyone on here told me to run to a therapist and get rid of my phobia (connected with the death of a close friend). It was the best decision of my life!

Can I somehow morally support you in your decision to visit a neurologist and share your concerns with them? There’s no point in taking pills that have no effect on you, something must be done to address your condition. Do you think you could make an appointment?

I’m not really sure about approaching your parents. Parents don’t often understand what we’re going through, either out of the best intentions or due to ignorance. I try not to be judgmental, but I’d recommend you to do this one thing for yourself on your own, and tell them later. It’s normal practice to go ask for another doctor’s opinion if the initial one doesn’t help.

Hello, I’m not a doctor, just someone interested both in medicine and in mental health. From what little I know, swallowing difficulties may indeed be anxiety-induced. That’s probably the reason why your doctor dismissed other symptoms and jumped to the wrong conclusion. You must help yourself immediately and see a general practitioner, telling him exactly how you feel and what might cause it. The sooner you do it, the better your body will feel and the quicker it’ll be able to recover. Brutal as it may sound, only we are responsible for our own health, so please do what is necessary to help yourself.

@Hiba I must say that in my country, most doctors who provide paid services would insist that you take as many tests as possible; only free services are discouraged. So in a sense, your doctor was not the worst doctor in the world, he was just incompetent. You should not give up on medical help in general. Are there ways to get free professional help?

Hi, when you write you’re depressed, do you refer to your despondent state of mind, or do you have an official diagnosis of depression?

Hiba, please listen to us internet strangers. Your body needs nutrition and care. If your physical or mental condition prevents you from getting enough food and leading an active life, I urge you to get medical help. Do not betray your own body, three years is a long enough period to suffer. We’ve all come across indecent and lazy medical providers, but that's not a good enough reason to give up on yourself. Imagine how different your next three years will be once you tackle all the physical issues!

@Helena all of you are so supportive! I am just gathering up the courage to tell my parents about what happened as holding on to it won't help and is adversely affecting me only and no one else. I'm just hopeful that they pay heed to it and recognize how crucial it is as a step towards my treatment😥

@maya yes I did. But the problem lies in me telling the doctors what I think is the cause of my condition. I've been to 2 more doctors and when i tell them how the condition started just abruptly and don't tell them what I think the cause is . They all just make the same diagosis: anxiety.